SAMARIDAE Samaris cristatus, 9.3 cm SL (photo by Ukkrit Satapoomin) Samaris cristatus Gray, 1831 Cockatoo Righteye Flounder D 73-88; A 49-60; P1 4; P2 5; LL 63-82; GR 2-5 + 7-11; V 37-38. Body elongate, strongly compressed. Snout short; dorsal contour of snout indented. Mouth small, not reaching to anterior margin of lower eye; teeth on jaws small, in narrow bands. Both eyes on right side of head; interorbital space narrow. Gill rakers rudimentary. First 10-15 dorsal-fin rays greatly elongate, filamentous; caudal fin with 16 unbranched rays and rounded posterior margin; pectoral fin on eyeless side absent; pelvic-fin rays on eyed side elongate. Scales ctenoid on eyed side, weakly ctenoid or cycloid on eyeless side; lateral line on eyed side nearly straight; lateral line on eyeless side absent or rudimentary. Color: eyed side of body brownish with dark blotches and spots; elongate anterior dorsalfin rays white; eyeless side of body whitish. Size: maximum length 22 cm. Distribution: Indo-West Pacific, from eastern coast of Africa to New Caledonia, north to southern Japan, south to northern Australia. Remarks: inhabits sandy and muddy bottoms. Feeds on benthic animals. Marketed fresh.